Welcome to DBSTalk

Welcome to DBSTalk. Our community covers all aspects of video delivery solutions including: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Cable Television, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). We also have forums to discuss popular television programs, home theater equipment, and internet streaming service providers. Members of our community include experts who can help you solve technical problems, industry professionals, company representatives, and novices who are here to learn.

Like most online communities you must register to view or post in our community. Sign-up is a free and simple process that requires minimal information. Be a part of our community by signing in or creating an account. The Digital Bit Stream starts here!

For a long time before I made the switch to Directv.Their main selling slogan to entice non Directv customers to switch over was:

"Directv The Leader In Sports"

Now it seems with Mike White in charge their business approach has really changed.

My main gripe is the NASTY situation they are in over the discussion to carry the Lakers new Regional Sports Network which Time Warner has the deal and is producing this channel.

Also Pac 12 fans aren't happy with the situation also and still not having the channel while Dishnetwork has already made a deal.

Hello kb24sd,

:rant:The only professional sporting event I am even remotely interested in is the contract negotiations between management and the person(s) on the athlete's side. It could carry over to the broadcasting rights negotiations too. It could be a grudge or death match. To quote a movie "it's all about the Benjamin's". For those who care deeply about sports and sporting events (I was one many years ago) I know how passionate it is when your favorites (individuals, teams and sports) perform well or badly.

These are new channels...which almost always start out with an inflated view of their value. In one case, the owner of the channel has little incentive to make DirecTV more competitive since they are one of the competitors. I am sure these channels will appear eventually, just give it some time.

Just because DirecTV does not have every sports channel does not prevent them from still being the leader in sports. DirecTV still has more sports than anyone else. Does Dish have the Big Ten Network?

Does anyone other than DirecTV have NFL Sunday Ticket? Are there enough people outside of the local PAC 12 schools areas that care whether the PAC 12 network is on DirecTV? The PAC 12 has been pretty irrelevant in football and basketball for many years. The PAC 12 came up with a model for their network (one national channel and six regional channels) that was designed with cable in mind. That model does not work well for DirecTV. At some point, I expect the PAC 12 national channel and overflow channels for live games will be on DirecTV (and in HD) as soon as the PAC 12 comes to its senses.

The Lakers are relavent in the NBA, but a channel devoted to one team in one sport has little to offer for a national market. Serious basketball fans will have NBA League Pass, and the others outside of LA will not care that they are missing Lakers home games. That said, let's wait until the NBA season starts to see whether it will be on DirecTV. I expect it will be on DirecTV, too, but it might not be until the All-Star break.

There is a great thread going on right now which discusses this whole issue. With the tremendous diversification of sports networks that's happening today, it's a very interesting time being a service provider, whether it be Dish, Time-Warner or DirecTV.

When you signed up, it was a different world involving sports programming. DirecTV has historically made a major commitment to sports, and I suspect that will continue. I'd be surprised if we don't find some agreement on the networks you want down the line. But right now, DirecTV is playing the game cautiously and I don't blame them. I, too, want the PAC-12 network, badly. But I also don't want to see the tail wag the dog, and that's where we're heading, with the content providers telling the service providers what to do.

My main gripe is the NASTY situation they are in over the discussion to carry the Lakers new Regional Sports Network which Time Warner has the deal and is producing this channel.

This one phrase stuck out in your comment. I would wonder how eager TWC would be to make it available for a competitor. I could see the local TWC outlet being upset over giving up a competitive advantage.

BTW, one of the reasons why I would not switch to TWC is their failure to carry the Mid Atlantic Sports Network. It is my source for Nationals games and would be a deal breaker.

I haven't really been following the DirecTV/TWC squabble, but it wouldn't surprise me that five years from now, if you're a sports fan of certain baseball, basketball, football and hockey teams, you'll literally have to subscribe to three or more carriers to access them all.

Ludicrous. But considering the jockeying that's going on for sports franchises (as it's probably the last vestige of "original" TV), the aforementioned situation is a distinct possibility, especially as the lines between providers and distributors continue to get blurred.

Personally, everyone is to blame IMO, from the greedy sports teams and leagues all the way up through the distributors.

The only thing that will stop this, in my opinion, is a true alternative, complete consumer backlash and/or legislative action.

People should start contacting their congressman (or woman) and let them know what you think of the entire situation. I'm not talking just about the Lakers or the PAC-12 network, but the coming storm. I see it.

The FCC has been relatively silent in these matters, and there's nothing wrong with that, but considering the exemptions that a lot of these leagues are afforded, and the limited choices we're presented with, it's time we voice our opinions where it counts.

People should start contacting their congressman (or woman) and let them know what you think of the entire situation. I'm not talking just about the Lakers or the PAC-12 network, but the coming storm. I see it.

I don't think there's a "coming storm." Time Warner still doesn't carry NFL Network and that's been going on for 9 years.

I have been a DirecTV subscriber since 2005.

A few channels I'd still like to see DirecTV add are:
CSPAN3, the PAC-12 Network(s), BBC World and more international news channels.

People should start contacting their congressman (or woman) and let them know what you think of the entire situation. I'm not talking just about the Lakers or the PAC-12 network, but the coming storm. I see it.

The FCC has been relatively silent in these matters, and there's nothing wrong with that, but considering the exemptions that a lot of these leagues are afforded, and the limited choices we're presented with, it's time we voice our opinions where it counts.

With Congress' recent track record of solving problems getting them involved sounds like the perfect way to really get things screwed up.